"Music contributes to the cultural, social and economic wellbeing of a community.” – Amy Terrill, Music Canada

Cities around the world are waking up to the multitude of opportunities that a vibrant music scene presents, from the role it plays in attracting young people and the companies that employ them; to its economic value in creating jobs and direct spend; building a city’s identity, pride and image; providing a means of cultural expression; or bringing the community together despite language, income or racial differences.

Hamilton is well positioned to be recognized as a city of music and to grow these opportunities. Hamilton has led the way in Ontario by not only developing a music strategy, but also by engaging the industry and maintaining a positive dialogue between the music community and city hall; but, it takes fortitude and collaboration to forge a new path.

This next PEDTalk examines how local government leaders, staff and community champions can all play a supporting role in helping strengthen a city’s music scene.

Leading this discussion is Amy Terrill, a globally recognized expert in municipal music strategies, who will share some of the newest information from around the world, and to remind us of the value of a vibrant music scene and staying on course. Amy is passionate about the development of music cities, and is a frequent speaker on global best practices and key learnings, many of which are featured in The Mastering of a Music City report.

Joining Amy will be representatives from Hamilton’s Music Strategy who will share the considerable work that has gone into branding Hamilton as a “music city” and what work lies ahead.

What Is PEDTalks?

PEDTalks are free public events that will bring together citizens, business leaders, PED staff and other city builders to share ideas and insights about Hamilton’s future growth and development.

To stay informed of upcoming PEDTalks, contact Ann.Lamanes@hamilton.ca or follow GM Jason Thorne on Twitter. You can also follow the discussion on Twitter with the #PEDTalks hashtag.